by Brianna Crandall — October 18, 2013—Heat networks, commonly known as district heating, are a cost effective way to distribute heat to multiple buildings or industrial processes, and many local authorities in the U.K. and elsewhere are considering how to initiate city center networks, according to the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) . CIBSE, a standard setter and authority on building services engineering in the U.K. and overseas, has formed a partnership with the Combined Heat and Power Association (CHPA) to underpin the quality of heat networks with the drafting of a code of practice.
The partners believe that the development of a widely recognized code of practice for heat networks will support the spread of the technology by increasing the confidence of developers and investors. Building owners and operators are likely to feel more confident about using the technology as well. The British Government, as part of its support for the growth of heat networks, has also called on the industry to set out standards.
Phil Jones, chair of the CIBSE Combined Heat and Power and District Heating (CHP-District Heating) Group, commented, “A code of practice will provide confidence for both specifiers and clients, and can be included in the tendering and contracting process. The Code will provide a foundation for training and differentiate those with specialist skills, through the accreditation and registration of heat network designers and engineers.”
CIBSE president George Adams sees the initiative as an important part of the Cities Challenge outlined in his Presidential Address.
The CIBSE-CHPA partnership aims to be inclusive and to consult widely in its work. The CIBSE CHP-DH Group and the CHPA are welcoming views from across the industry. To start this Phil Jones has initiated a LinkedIn discussion about heat network quality.
For further information, stakeholders are asked to contact Dr. Jacquelyn Fox , Head of Sustainability, CIBSE, or Nicola Butterworth, Policy and Development Manager, CHPA.
